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A bill introduced June 4 in the Delaware House of Representatives would allow supermarkets in the state to sell beer and wine alongside regular grocery items.
House Bill 193 was filed by Rep. John J. Viola, D-Newark, who claims the state could raise $10 million next year through licensing fees paid by stores who want to sell alcohol.
“This bill also would bring us in line with the majority of the other states,” Viola said in a press release.
Forty-five states and the District of Columbia allow supermarkets to sell beer, wine or both. In addition to Delaware, states that don’t allow grocery store alcohol sales include Alaska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.
Viola also said that the bill would be a plus for consumers.
“I look at this as an issue of convenience. It’s perfect for the person who stops off at the grocery store on their way home to pick up dinner,” he said.
The state supermarket industry, represented by the Delaware Food Industry Council, has offered its support for the bill, which was assigned to the House Revenue and Finance Committee.
The legislation outlines a $100,000 one-time fee and a $5,000 biannual renewal fee for stores who want a beer and wine license.
To qualify for a license, a grocery store would be required to have at least 6,000 square feet of retail space and generate at least 90% of its food sales from items that cannot be immediately consumed — provisions which would prevent convenience stores from applying for licenses.
Under the bill, licensed stores could dedicate as much 10% of their floor space to the sale of alcohol. Only employees over the age of 21 would be allowed to ring up alcoholic beverages at the register, and stores would only be allowed to sell alcohol during the same hours as liquor stores.
Liquor store owners, however, are not happy with the plan.
“With Delaware’s system we have enough package stores in the state that are doing a good job,” said Mike Patel, manager of Mr. B’s Super Liquor Warehouse in Dover. “It’s not like anyone has to drive an excessive distance to find a store.”
More importantly, the bill would devastate the state’s community of small independently owned liquor stores, he added.
“It’s going to put a lot of people out of business,” Patel said.
Larger alcohol businesses also say the bill is a bad idea.
F. Gregory Tigani is the owner of Standard Distributing Company, a major statewide purveyor of Miller, Coors and a dozen other brands of beer.
He said his company does not support the legislation.
“We feel the current system serves the people of the state of Delaware very effectively,” Tigani said.
Email Doug Denison at doug.denison@doverpost.com
A bill introduced June 4 in the Delaware House of Representatives would allow supermarkets in the state to sell beer and wine alongside regular grocery items.
House Bill 193 was filed by Rep. John J. Viola, D-Newark, who claims the state could raise $10 million next year through licensing fees paid by stores who want to sell alcohol.
“This bill also would bring us in line with the majority of the other states,” Viola said in a press release.
Forty-five states and the District of Columbia allow supermarkets to sell beer, wine or both. In addition to Delaware, states that don’t allow grocery store alcohol sales include Alaska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.
Viola also said that the bill would be a plus for consumers.
“I look at this as an issue of convenience. It’s perfect for the person who stops off at the grocery store on their way home to pick up dinner,” he said.
The state supermarket industry, represented by the Delaware Food Industry Council, has offered its support for the bill, which was assigned to the House Revenue and Finance Committee.
The legislation outlines a $100,000 one-time fee and a $5,000 biannual renewal fee for stores who want a beer and wine license.
To qualify for a license, a grocery store would be required to have at least 6,000 square feet of retail space and generate at least 90% of its food sales from items that cannot be immediately consumed — provisions which would prevent convenience stores from applying for licenses.
Under the bill, licensed stores could dedicate as much 10% of their floor space to the sale of alcohol. Only employees over the age of 21 would be allowed to ring up alcoholic beverages at the register, and stores would only be allowed to sell alcohol during the same hours as liquor stores.
Liquor store owners, however, are not happy with the plan.
“With Delaware’s system we have enough package stores in the state that are doing a good job,” said Mike Patel, manager of Mr. B’s Super Liquor Warehouse in Dover. “It’s not like anyone has to drive an excessive distance to find a store.”
More importantly, the bill would devastate the state’s community of small independently owned liquor stores, he added.
“It’s going to put a lot of people out of business,” Patel said.
Larger alcohol businesses also say the bill is a bad idea.
F. Gregory Tigani is the owner of Standard Distributing Company, a major statewide purveyor of Miller, Coors and a dozen other brands of beer.
He said his company does not support the legislation.
“We feel the current system serves the people of the state of Delaware very effectively,” Tigani said.
Email Doug Denison at doug.denison@doverpost.com
